Former presidential candidate Ron Paul is taking heat for a tweet he sent out Monday afternoon about the Navy SEAL who was killed at a Texas gun range over the weekend.

Chris Kyle, 38, a decorated Iraq war veteran, a former SEAL and author of “American Sniper,” was shot and killed Saturday. Police arrested Eddie Ray Routh, 25, a veteran authorities say may have a mental illness related to his military service.

In response to the news, Paul tweeted: “Chris Kyle’s death seems to confirm that ‘he who lives by the sword dies by the sword.’ Treating PTSD at a firing range doesn’t make sense.”

The tweet set off a chain reaction of criticism online.

Aaron Worthing (@AaronWorthing) responded: “What the Hell, @RonPaul? Are you actually blaming Chris Kyle for his own death?”

Michelle Lancaster (@SkiGarmisch) added, “Very disrespectful commentary to this man, his memory and his family. Shame on you.”

Razor (@hale.razor) wrote, “So all veterans, once done serving our nation with honor, deserve to be murdered as civilians? Wow.”

"Chris Kyle’s death seems to confirm that ‘he who lives by the sword dies by the sword.’ Treating PTSD at a firing range doesn’t make sense."

- Former Rep. Ron Paul, on Twitter

Calls and emails to Paul for comment were not immediately returned. He averages about two tweets a day, typically about policy issues ranging from immigration to the Federal Reserve. Paul, who is known for his anti-war views, retired as a long-time Texas congressman earlier this year.

Kyle, the most lethal sniper in the U.S., had 160 confirmed kills. He enlisted in the Navy in February 1999 and was discharged in November 2009. He had four tours in Iraq under his belt and received 14 different awards and decorations, including two Silver Stars, five Bronze Stars with Valor and two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals. After leaving the Navy, he wrote his biography, “American Sniper.”

Last year, Kyle told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that he didn’t go into the service for the money or awards.

“I did it because I felt like it was something that needed to be done and it was honorable,” Kyle said. “I loved the guys.”

Routh, a former corporal in the Marines, is being held on $3 million bond. He is also accused of killing Chad Littlefield, 35, who was at the gun range with Kyle. Routh has been charged with one count of capital murder and two charges of murder. Routh served on active duty from 2006 to 2010. He fought in Iraq in 2007 and was sent to Haiti in 2010.

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Yea, and this is the guy some of you wanted as Commander-in-Chief? I can pretty much guarantee he has just lost all of the military support he had....What a piece of human garbage....

Funny all these people getting so butthurt over this, but are perfectly ok supporting politicians that have killed thousands of our young men in Iraq/Afghanistan, for what? What did we win?

Reminds of of the democrats who bitched and whined about the wars and now keep their mouth shut while the blood still flows and new warfronts are opened up.

Hypocrits.. and yes it's not a wise thing to take a mentally unstable person to a gun range and let them have access to loaded weapons.

I feel you are misquoting Jesus from Mathew 26:52. He was referring to one of his diciples at the time that Judas was betraying him. To say that a soldier that died in this fashion had it coming is wrong as Ron Paul was.

God had his army's destroy many throughout history and showed many soldiers to be rightous men. This was a soldier who did as he was instrucrted and no more. His death is a sad loss for our country. Period.

Ron Paul was wrong for making any inference otherwise. Shows why he had no real chance to become president. Any why he never will.

I feel you are misquoting Jesus from Mathew 26:52. He was referring to one of his diciples at the time that Judas was betraying him. To say that a soldier that died in this fashion had it coming is wrong as Ron Paul was.

The quote "to live by the sword is to die by the sword" in reference to this particular incident can not be misconstrued as not meaning what you sow you so shal reap, or you got what you had coming.

If not then no one would be "butthurt" by any of it. That is funny.

To say differently would mean he was simply misunderstood and from his history and previous statements on his dislike of war, I personally find that hard to believe. We all dislike war, but to hold one soldier in this regard is low.

But he is free to feel as he desires, as I am free to dislike him for it.

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